For the first time in the State of Israel, authorization was granted to register students for the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, making the Ariel University Center a pioneer in this field.

Formal authorization was given due to the physical infrastructure at the Ariel campus (i.e.: robotics and computerized production laboratory) and the appointment of Prof. Zvi Shiller as the first department head.

The field of mechatronics deals with computer-embedded mechanical systems engineering, where the mechanical system is integrated with the electronic system. The mechantronics program trains engineers in the interdisciplinary fields of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering & electronics and computer science.

The university center's program is unique in that it is primarily dedicated to mechantronics and thus exposes the student early on to various interdisciplinary issues. This is also the only program in Israel that grants its students a B.Sc. degree in mechanical engineering and mechatronics.